M.P. Tells Of Letter From ‘gay’ Coalition (Press, 18 July 1985)

Mr Norman Jones, Member of Parliament for Invercargill, made a controversial statement on 17 July 1985, asserting that he would leave Parliament if he had to depend on homosexual votes to maintain his political position. His remarks came in response to a letter from Alison Thorne, the international secretary of Australia's Gay Legal Rights Coalition, which encouraged him to reconsider his stance on the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. Jones interpreted the letter as an indication that New Zealand’s homosexual community was part of a broader lobbying effort that held significant influence over electoral outcomes. He claimed that he had been informed of a potential voting bloc of around 2,000 to 3,000 homosexuals in his electorate and expressed his hope that they would not vote against him. He emphasized that if he were to rely on votes from this community to stay in office, he would choose to resign. The letter suggested that the denial of full human rights to homosexuals and lesbians in New Zealand was as objectionable as apartheid. It warned Jones that New Zealand could face sporting boycotts and economic sanctions unless the rights of approximately 10 per cent of the population were acknowledged and granted. Jones's comments sparked significant debate around the topic of homosexual rights in New Zealand, highlighting the tensions between political representatives and advocacy groups during this period.

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